JPH09314929A - Printing device, printing method, printing system, information processing device, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Correction) [PROBLEMS] A printing apparatus capable of continuing printing processing without stopping when processing which is predicted to take a longer processing time than the amount of data to be analyzed. SOLUTION: For a printing apparatus 101 connected to a host computer 102, an operator sets "copy number" of the setup menu to a value of 1 and "ACK delay" of the setup menu to "execute". When an event occurs in which print data is sent from the host computer 102 to the printing apparatus 101 via the Centronics I / F 103, the printing apparatus 101 receives the print data at the data input unit 104. Data input means 1
Reference numeral 04 represents the print data sent from the host computer 102 at the trailing edge of the STROBE signal, and B
Raise USY signal. It is checked whether or not the receiving buffer 105 has a free space for receiving the next print data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device, a printing method and a printing method for analyzing and printing printing data (hereinafter referred to as printing data) composed of a plurality of control commands sent from an information processing device. Regarding printing system. Also,
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that transmits print data and a storage medium that stores a program that controls the printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional printing apparatus. In the figure, 1001 is a printing apparatus. A host computer 1002 sends print data to the printing apparatus 1001. A Centronics interface (I / F) 1003 connects the host computer 1002 and the printing apparatus 1001.

1004 is Centronics I / F 1003
It is a data input means for performing a handshake for receiving the data sent from the host computer 1002 via the. The data input unit 1004 returns an ACK signal indicating a data reception response to the host computer 1002 every time one byte of data is received from the Centronics I / F 1003.

Reference numeral 1005 is a reception buffer for accumulating the data received by the data input means 1004. Reference numeral 1006 is a translation unit that analyzes the print data accumulated in the reception buffer 1005 and creates drawing data to be drawn on a print sheet. A page control unit 1007 buffers the drawing data sent from the translating unit 1006 in page units, converts the drawing data for each page into a video signal, and sends the video signal to the engine unit 1010.

Reference numeral 1008 denotes a page buffer in the page control unit 1007 capable of queuing a plurality of pages of drawing data sent from the translating means 1006. A paper cassette 1009 stores print paper. An engine unit 1010 transfers the image of the video signal sent from the page control unit 1007 onto a printing sheet and outputs the image.

Reference numeral 1111 is a control means for controlling the ACK signal returned from the data input means 1004 to the host computer 1002, and includes a CPU 1111a and a memory 1.
111b. The memory 1111b, which is a ROM, has a configuration shown in FIG.
The program shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Here, an application for instructing the CRT of the host computer 1002 to retransmit the data when the ACK signal is not returned from the printing apparatus 1001 for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) is used. Further, the operator sets “1” for the “number of copies” in the setup menu of the printing apparatus 1001. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a print data fetching processing procedure of a conventional printing apparatus. As shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not an event has occurred in which print data is sent from 002 to the printing apparatus 1001 via the Centronics I / F 1003 (step S1101). When the event occurs, the printing apparatus 1001 outputs the print data to the data input unit 1004. To receive.

The data input unit 1004 uses the STROB to print the print data sent from the host computer 1002.
Captured at the falling edge of the E signal (step S110
2), the BUSY signal is activated (step S110)
3) It is checked whether or not the reception buffer 1005 has a free space for receiving the next print data (step S110).
4).

When the receiving buffer 1005 has a free space, an ACK signal is returned to the host computer 1002 at an ACK response timing of 20 μS (step S110).
5) The BUSY signal is lowered (step S110).
7) End the processing.

On the other hand, if there is no free space in the reception buffer 1005 in step S1104, the reception buffer 1005
Wait until there is a free space (step S1106). As shown in FIG. 9B, it is determined whether or not an event indicating that the receiving buffer 1005 has a free space has occurred (step S1108), and when the receiving buffer 1005 has a free space, the host computer 1002 The ACK signal is returned to (step S1109), and the BUSY signal is lowered (step S1110).

The data input means 1004 accumulates the received print data in the reception buffer 1005. The print data stored in the reception buffer 1005 is analyzed by the translation means 1006 in the order of reception, one control command at a time. The print data analyzed by the translating means 1006 is received buffer 100.
5, the reception buffer 1005 has a free space correspondingly. The print data is a set of a plurality of control commands, and one control command is composed of 1 byte or a plurality of bytes.

The translating means 1006 has a receiving buffer 1005.
When the print data inside is analyzed, drawing data for drawing on the printing paper is created. When one page of drawing data is completed, the translating means 1006 determines whether or not there is a space for drawing data in the page buffer 1008 in the page control unit 1007. When the data is transferred to the page buffer 1008 and there is no free space, the next data analysis process is not performed until a free space for the drawing data is created in the page buffer 1008.

The page buffer 1008 in the page controller 1007 can store drawing data for a plurality of pages. The page control unit 1007 processes from the previously stored drawing data of the page. Page control unit 100
When there is drawing data of a page to be printed in the page buffer 1008, the drawing data 7 converts the drawing data of the page into a video signal and sends the video signal to the engine unit 1010.

The engine unit 1010 is a page control unit 100.
When a video signal is sent from 7, the paper cassette 10
The printing paper is taken in from 09, and the image of the video signal is transferred and output. The page control unit 1007 refers to “the number of copies” of the setup menu before sending the video signal to the engine unit 1010, sends the video signal of the page for the number of times of the value to the engine unit 1010, and the same page is changed to the “number of copies”. Print minutes.

Since the "number of copies" is currently set to 1, the video signal for one page is sent to the engine unit 1010 only once. When the page control unit 1007 finishes sending the video signals for "the number of copies" of the page,
The drawing data of the page is deleted from the page buffer 1008, and the page buffer 1008 becomes empty.

As described above, the series of operations from data input to printing has been described. The data receiving process in the data input unit 1004, the data storing process in the receiving buffer 1005, the data analyzing process in the translating unit 1006, the page The print output processing in the control unit 1007 is performed in parallel by multitask processing and interrupt processing. Here, the capacity of the reception buffer 1005, the capacity of the page buffer 1008,
Although depending on the printing speed of the engine unit 1010 and the like, when the “number of copies” is 4 or less, the reception buffer 1005 will not be full.

Next, the operator sets the "number of copies" of the printer 1001 to a value of 10, and the host computer 10
A case where print data is sent from 02 to the printing apparatus 1001 via the Centronics I / F 1003 will be described. The printing apparatus 1001 has a data input unit 1004.
The data receiving process in step 1, the data storing process in the receiving buffer 1005, the data analyzing process in the translating means 1006, and the print output process in the page control unit 1007 are performed in the same manner as above. However, since the “number of copies” is the value 10, the page control unit 1007 sends drawing data for one page to the engine unit 1010 ten times.

In the meantime, when drawing data of many pages is sent from the translation means 1006, the page control unit 1
The page buffer 1008 in 007 becomes full, and the data analysis processing of the translation means 1006 stops.
When the data analysis process is stopped, the reception buffer 100
The print data stored in No. 5 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller, and eventually the receiving buffer 1005 becomes full.

When the receiving buffer 1005 is full, even if the print data is sent from the host computer 1002 (step S1101), it waits until the receiving buffer 1004 has a space without returning an ACK signal (step S1106). If you can (step S110
8) The ACK signal is returned to the host computer 1102 (step S1109), and the BUSY signal falls (step S1110).

However, when the host computer 1002 does not receive an ACK signal for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) after sending 1-byte data to the printer 1001, the host computer 1002 temporarily suspends the print data transmission, and the host computer 1002 1
The print data is retransmitted and displayed on the CRT 002. As a result, transmission of print data to the printing apparatus 1001 is not resumed until the operator operates the host computer 1002.

[0021]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional printing apparatus, when the number of copies is large, the printing apparatus 100 is compared with the data amount analyzed by the translation unit 1006.
When the processing in 1 is expected to take a long time, the print data in the reception buffer 1005 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller, and eventually the reception buffer 1005 becomes full. Even if print data is sent from the host computer 1002, it becomes impossible to immediately return a response to the data reception.

As described above, some applications of the host computer 1002 may cause print data to be retransmitted on the CRT or hang up if no response is returned from the printing apparatus 1001 for a predetermined time. . If it is re-displayed on the CRT of the host computer 1002, the intervention of the operator is required, which is troublesome. In addition, it takes extra time to obtain the print result.

On the other hand, when the host computer 1002 hangs up, the same print data must be transmitted again, and the same output result is output halfway, which is a waste.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of continuing printing processing without stopping it when processing which is predicted to take a longer processing time than the amount of data to be analyzed. To do.

[0025]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention analyzes print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from an information processing apparatus. In a printing apparatus that prints by printing, a data input unit that returns a response to the information processing apparatus and performs a handshake with the information processing apparatus each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received; In the case where a translation unit that analyzes the print data to create drawing data in a predetermined page and a process that is predicted to take a long processing time compared to the amount of print data analyzed by the translation unit are performed, The data input means is provided with a control means for controlling so as to return a response to the information processing device at a response timing later than a normal response timing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, in which the processing is predicted to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translation means. The present invention is characterized by including a delay setting means capable of setting a response timing that is later than a normal response timing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of printing apparatuses in the case where the printing apparatus according to the first aspect performs a process that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translation unit. The timing value setting means for selecting one of the timing values and setting the late response timing.

A printing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising an operation panel, and the operation panel is provided with the delay setting means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the delay setting means is set by the print data sent from the information processing apparatus.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means determines the response timing in accordance with the content of the process that is predicted to take a long time.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the content of the processing is execution of a macro, and the response timing is determined according to the data amount of the macro. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the content of the processing is the number of copies.

A printing apparatus according to a ninth aspect comprises a registration means for registering a macro in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect,
When the registered macro is executed, the control means controls to return a response to the information processing device at the late response timing.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer according to the first aspect.
In the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit controls to return a response to the information processing apparatus at a late response timing when the number of copies is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, when the information processing apparatus hangs up for a predetermined time, the delay setting means is set to a late response timing. It is characterized by

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, if the information processing apparatus does not hang up even when the information processing apparatus does not receive a response, the delay setting means is not set to a late response timing. And

A printing method according to a thirteenth aspect is a printing method for analyzing and printing print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from an information processing apparatus, each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received. When returning a response to the information processing device and performing a handshake with the information processing device, the print data sent from the information processing device is analyzed to create drawing data in a predetermined page unit, and the drawing data is analyzed. When a process that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data is being performed, control is performed so that a response is returned to the information processing device at a response timing that is later than the normal response timing. .

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system comprising: an information processing device for transmitting print data composed of a plurality of control commands; and a printing device for analyzing and printing the print data sent from the information processing device. In the provided printing system, the printing device sends data from the information processing device, a data input unit that returns a response to the information processing device and performs a handshake with the information processing device each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received. A translation unit that analyzes the received print data to create drawing data in a predetermined page unit, and a process that is expected to take a long processing time compared to the amount of print data analyzed by the translation unit is performed. And a control means for controlling the data input means to return a response to the information processing device at a response timing later than the normal response timing. Characterized by comprising.

An information processing apparatus according to a fifteenth aspect is an information processing apparatus that transmits print data composed of a plurality of control commands to a printing apparatus and causes the printing apparatus to analyze the print data and perform printing. Each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received, the print device includes a data output unit that receives a response sent from the print device and performs a handshake with the print device. When a process that is predicted to take a long time is being performed, a response is returned to the data output unit at a response timing that is later than the normal response timing, and the data output unit returns a response timing that is later than the normal response timing. The print data is transmitted each time a response is received.

A storage medium according to a sixteenth aspect is a storage medium used in a printing apparatus which stores a program for analyzing and printing print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from an information processing apparatus. A communication module that returns a response to the information processing device each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received and performs a handshake with the information processing device, and analyzes the print data sent from the information processing device. When a creation module that creates drawing data in units of a predetermined page and a process that is predicted to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data to be analyzed are performed, the response timing is slower than the normal response timing. A program including a control module for controlling the information processing apparatus to return a response is stored.

[0041]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In the figure, 101 is a printing apparatus. A host computer 102 sends print data to the printing apparatus 101. Reference numeral 103 denotes the host computer 102 and the printing device 10.
It is a Centronics I / F that connects 1 and 1. A data input unit 104 performs a handshake for receiving print data sent from the host computer 102 via the Centronics I / F 103.

The data input means 104 sends an ACK signal indicating a response of data reception every time one byte of data is received from the Centronics I / F 103.
Return to 2. Reference numeral 105 is a reception buffer for accumulating the data received by the data input means 104. Reference numeral 106 denotes a translation unit that analyzes print data accumulated in the reception buffer 105 and creates drawing data to be drawn on a printing paper.
Reference numeral 107 buffers the drawing data sent from the translating means 106 on a page-by-page basis, converts the drawing data for each page into a video signal, and converts the video signal into the engine unit 1.
This is a page control unit for sending to 10.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a page buffer in the page controller 107 capable of queuing a plurality of pages of drawing data sent from the translating means 106.
A paper cassette 109 stores print paper. 11
Reference numeral 0 denotes an engine unit that transfers the image of the video signal sent from the page control unit 107 onto a printing sheet and outputs the image.
111 is a timing when the data input means 104 is later than the normal ACK response timing when performing a specific process in which the processing time in the printing apparatus 101 is expected to take longer than the amount of data analyzed by the translation means 106. Is a control means for controlling the host computer 102 to return an ACK signal. The control means 111 is a CPU 111a
And a memory 111b, and the memory 111b, which is a ROM, stores the programs executed by the CPU 111a and shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. Normally, the control unit 111 controls the data input unit 104 so as to return the ACK signal at 20 μS after receiving the print data, but 100 m after receiving the print data when performing a specific process.
The data input means 104 is controlled so that S returns an ACK signal.

Reference numeral 112 generally indicates the response timing to be returned to the host computer 102 when performing a specific process that is expected to take a longer processing time within the printing apparatus 101 than the amount of print data analyzed by the translation unit 106. It is an operation panel that can be set whether to make it later than the response timing of. Reference numeral 113 is a memory for storing set values of a setup menu set on the operation panel 112.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the operation panel of the printing apparatus. The operation panel 112 has a plurality of keys and lamps, each having the illustrated function. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the setup menu of the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing signals on the Centronics I / F representing the data reception sequence of the printing apparatus.

(A) When the ACK signal is not returned from the printing apparatus 101 for a predetermined time (3 seconds in this embodiment),
A case where an application that causes a hangup is used for the host computer 102 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the print data fetch processing procedure of the printing apparatus. In advance, the operator selects “number of copies” on the setup menu of the printing apparatus 101.
Is set to the value 1, and "ACK delay" in the setup menu is set to "Yes" (see FIG. 3).

First, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is determined whether or not an event has occurred in which print data is sent from the host computer 102 to the printing apparatus 101 via the Centronics I / F 103 (step). S51
1). When the event occurs, in the printing apparatus 101, the print data is received by the data input unit 104.
The data input unit 104 takes in the print data sent from the host computer 102 at the trailing edge of the STROBE signal (step S512, see FIG. 4), and BUS.
The Y signal is activated (step S513). It is checked whether or not the receiving buffer 105 has a free space for receiving the next data (step S514). If there is no free space in the reception buffer 105 for receiving the next data, the host computer 102 does not immediately return the ACK signal and waits until there is free space (step S515).

As shown in FIG. 1B, the reception buffer 1
It is determined whether or not an event indicating that there is a space in 05 has occurred (step S520), and the reception buffer 105
AC to the host computer 102 when there is a free space
The K signal is returned (step S521) and the BUSY signal is lowered (step S522). On the other hand, step S51
If there is a vacancy in the reception buffer 105 in step 4, it is determined whether or not the current reception mode is the ACK delay mode (step S516).

If the current reception mode is the ACK delay mode, an ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 at an ACK response timing of 100 mS (step S51).
8) If the reception mode is the ACK delay release mode,
Host computer 1 with ACK response timing of 20 μS
An ACK signal is returned to 02 (step S517). After that, the BUSY signal is lowered (step S519), and the process ends.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the data input means 104 determines whether or not an event, which is an instruction of ACK delay, has occurred from the control means 111 (step S).
507), if an event occurs, set the reception mode to AC
The K delay mode is set (step S508).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5D, it is judged from the control means 111 whether or not an event, which is an instruction for canceling the ACK delay, has occurred (step S509). If an event has occurred, the reception mode is set. Is set to the ACK delay cancel mode (step S510). At this stage, since the processing that takes a longer processing time than the amount of data analyzed by the translation means 106 has not occurred, the data input means 10
The reception mode of No. 4 is the ACK delay cancellation mode.

When the data input means 104 returns the ACK signal, it causes the BUSY signal to fall as described above (step S519), and the received print data is received by the reception buffer 105.
To accumulate.

The print data stored in the reception buffer 105 is analyzed by the translating means 106 one control command at a time in the order of reception. The print data analyzed by the translation unit 106 is deleted from the reception buffer 105, and the reception buffer 1 is deleted by that amount.
There is a vacancy in 05. The print data is a set of a plurality of control commands, and one control command is composed of 1 byte or a plurality of bytes. When the translating means 106 analyzes the print data in the reception buffer 105, it creates drawing data to be drawn on the printing paper.

When the drawing data for one page is completed, the translating means 106 checks whether or not there is a space for drawing data for one page in the page buffer 108 in the page control unit 107, and if there is a space for one page. When the drawing data is transferred to the page buffer 108 and there is no space, the next print data is not analyzed until the page buffer 108 has a space for the drawing data.

Page buffer 1 in page control unit 107
It is possible to store drawing data for a plurality of pages in 08. The page control unit 107 performs processing from the previously stored page drawing data. When there is drawing data of a page to be printed in the page buffer 108, the page control unit 107 converts the drawing data of the page into a video signal and sends the video signal to the engine unit 110. When the video signal is sent from the page control unit 107, the engine unit 110 takes in printing paper from the paper cassette 109, transfers the image of the video signal, and outputs it.

The page control unit 107 has the memory 1 in the control unit 111 before transmitting the video signal to the engine unit 110.
With reference to the "copy number" stored in 13, the video signal of the page is sent to the engine unit 110 for the number of times of the value, and the same page is printed for the "copy number". In this case, the "number of copies" is set to the value 1, so 1
The video signal for a page is transmitted to the engine unit 110 only once. When the page control unit 107 finishes sending the video signal of the page by "the number of copies", the page buffer 1
The drawing data of the page is deleted from 08, and the page buffer 108 becomes empty.

Although a series of operations from data input to printing have been described above, data receiving processing by the data input means 104, data accumulating processing in the receiving buffer 105, data analysis processing by the translating means 106, page control. Part 107
The print output processing in (1) is performed in parallel by multitask processing and interrupt processing. Here, the reception buffer 105
, The page buffer capacity, the printing speed of the engine unit 110, etc., but when the “number of copies” is 4 or less, the reception buffer 105 will not be full.

(B) Next, the operator operates the printing apparatus 101.
A case will be described in which the “number of copies” set to the value 1 is changed to the value 10 by operating the operation panel 112 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure for changing the setup menu of the printing apparatus. "Number of copies" is 5
When the above settings are made, as shown in FIG. 7A, the control unit 111 determines that an event has occurred that is a process that takes a longer time than the amount of data analyzed by the translation unit 106 (step SS501). It is determined whether or not "ACK delay" in the setup menu is set to "Yes" (step S502). When "ACK delay" is set to "Yes", an ACK delay instruction is output to the data input unit 104 (step S503) and the reception mode is set to the ACK delay mode. On the other hand, when “ACK delay” in the setup menu is set to “not”, the ACK delay instruction is not output to the data input means 104, so the reception mode does not change.

After this, the online key is pressed to set online. The set value of the setup menu is stored in the memory 113 in the control means 111.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is determined whether or not an event has occurred in which print data is sent from the host computer 102 to the printing apparatus 101 via the Centronics I / F 103 (step S511). ).
The data input unit 104 takes in the print data sent from the host computer 102 at the trailing edge of the STROBE signal (step S512), and raises the BUSY signal (step S513). It is determined whether or not the reception buffer 105 has a space (step S514). If there is a space, the current reception mode is the ACK delay mode. Therefore, an ACK signal is returned at an ACK response timing of 100 ms (step S518), and a BUSY signal is output. It is stopped (step S519).

Prepare to receive the next print data. ACK
Since the ACK response timing is 100 mS in the delay mode, the ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 5000 times later than the ACK response timing of 20 μS in the normal ACK delay canceling mode. This means that the speed at which the print data is accumulated in the reception buffer 105 is about 5000 times slower in the ACK delay mode than in the ACK delay cancel mode. The data reception process in the data input unit 104, the data accumulation process in the reception buffer 105, the data analysis process in the translation unit 106, and the print output process in the page control unit 107 are performed in the same manner as described above. However, since the “number of copies” is 10, the page control unit 107 transmits the drawing data for one page to the engine unit 110 ten times. In the meantime, when a lot of page drawing data is sent from the translation means 106, the page buffer 10 in the page control means 107 is sent.
8 becomes full and the data analysis processing of the translation means 106 stops. If the data analysis process of the translation unit 106 is stopped, the print data in the reception buffer 105 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller and smaller. However, in reality, the data reception processing in the data input means 104 is several thousand times slower than in the normal ACK delay cancel mode, and a lot of time is required to fill the reception buffer 105. In the meantime, the page control unit 107 finishes the print output processing for the "number of copies", and the page buffer 1
Since there is a space in 08, the data analysis processing of the translation means 106 is restarted, and there is a space in the reception buffer 105, the reception buffer 105 will not be full.

(C) Next, the operator operates the printing apparatus 101.
A case will be described in which the operation panel 112 is operated to return the “number of copies” set to the value 10 to the value 1.
The method of setting the "number of copies" is the same as described above.
When the "number of copies" is set to 4 or less, the control means 1
No. 11 judges that the processing time in the printing apparatus 101 is shorter than the amount of data analyzed by the translation unit 106, and FIG.
As shown in, the ACK delay cancel instruction is output to the data input means 104 to set the ACK delay cancel mode.
After that, the operation in the printing apparatus 101 when the print data is sent from the host computer 102 is the same as the operation when the first “number of copies” is “1”.

(D) Next, from the printing apparatus 101 to the AC
A case will be described in which an application of the host computer 102 that does not hang up even if the K signal is not returned is used. When such an application is used, the ACK signal does not hang up even if the wait for the ACK signal for data transmission is long. Therefore, even if the processing time is longer than the data amount, the ACK signal is always fast while the receiving buffer 104 has a space. Is returned, the data transfer time of the host computer 102 can be shortened.

The operator sets "ACK delay" in the setup menu of the printing apparatus 101 to "no" and sets "number of copies" to the value 10. The setting method of this setup menu is the same as described above. When the “number of copies” is set to 5 or more, the control unit 111 determines that this process takes a longer processing time than the data amount analyzed by the translation unit 106, but step S501.
In the setup menu, "ACK delay" is "not"
Therefore, the ACK delay instruction is not issued to the data input means 104, and the reception mode remains unchanged as the ACK delay cancel mode. When the printing data is sent from the host computer 102 to the printing apparatus 101, the data receiving process in the data input unit 104 and the receiving buffer 1 are performed.
The data storage process in 05, the data analysis process in the translation unit 106, and the print output process in the page control unit 107 are performed in the same manner as described above. However, since the “number of copies” is 10, the page control unit 107 sets the drawing data for one page to 1
It is transmitted to the engine unit 110 zero times. In the meantime, translation means 1
When drawing data of many pages is sent from 06, the page buffer 108 in the page control means 107 becomes full, and the data analysis processing of the translation means 106 stops. If the data analysis process is stopped, the data in the reception buffer 105 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller, and eventually the reception buffer 105 becomes full. When the reception buffer 105 is full, even if print data is sent from the host computer 102, the host computer 1 waits until the reception buffer 104 has a space without returning an ACK signal, and when there is space, the host computer 1
The ACK signal is returned to 02 and the BUSY signal falls.

However, the application of the host computer 102 does not hang up even if the ACK signal is not returned for a while after the print data is transmitted.
Can continue the data reception process.

[Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The control means 111 includes the first
In the same manner as in the above embodiment, when performing a specific process in which it is predicted that the processing time in the printing apparatus 101 will take longer than the amount of data analyzed by the translation unit 106, the data input unit 104 causes a normal ACK. The ACK signal is controlled to be returned to the host computer 102 at a timing later than the response timing.

Further, the control means 111 controls the data input means 104 so as to return the ACK signal at 20 μS after receiving the data at the normal time. However, when the specific processing is performed, the “ACK response timing of the setup menu is displayed. Host computer 1 with the timing value set in
The data input means 104 is controlled to return the ACK signal to 02. In the memory 111b of the control means 111, the CP
The programs shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9 which will be described later and are executed by the U111a are stored.

The operation panel 112 returns a response to the host computer 102 when performing a specific process which is expected to take a long processing time in the printing apparatus 101 as compared with the amount of print data analyzed by the translating means 106. Whether to set the timing later than the normal response timing, and the response timing when performing a specific process that is expected to take a long time from one of multiple timing values Can be selected and set. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the setup menu.

(E) First, the printers 101 to 15
A case will be described in which an application of the host computer 102 is used that causes a hang-up when an ACK signal is not returned within 0 ms. The operator selects "ACK delay" in the setup menu of the printing apparatus 101.
Is set to “Yes” and “ACK response timing” is set to 10
Set to 0 mS.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the print data fetch processing procedure of the printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 9A, first, it is determined whether or not an event has occurred in which print data is sent from the host computer 102 to the printing apparatus 101 via the Centronics I / F 103 (step S709). In the printing apparatus 101, the print data is received by the data input unit 104. The data input unit 104 takes in the print data sent from the host computer 102 at the trailing edge of the STROBE signal (step S710), and raises the BUSY signal (step S711).

Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the receiving buffer 105 has a free space for receiving the next data (step S712). If there is no free space in the reception buffer 105, the ACK signal is not immediately returned to the host computer 102 and the host computer 102 waits until there is free space (step S713).

As shown in FIG. 7B, the reception buffer 1
It is determined whether or not an event indicating that there is a space in 05 has occurred (step S716). Receive buffer 10
A becomes available on the host computer 102 when there is a vacancy in 5.
The CK signal is returned (step S717) and the BUSY signal is lowered (step S718).

On the other hand, in step S712, the reception buffer 1
If there is a space in 05, the current ACK response timing value is 20 mS, the ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 (step S714), and the BUSY signal is lowered (S715). At this point in time, the control unit 111 does not perform a process that requires a longer processing time than the amount of data analyzed by the translation unit 106. Therefore, the data input unit 10
The timing value of the ACK response of No. 4 is set to 20 mS at the time of normal data reception.

The data input means 104 accumulates the received data in the reception buffer 105. Receive buffer 10
The print data stored in 5 is translated in the order received.
In step 6, each control instruction is analyzed. The data analyzed by the translating means 106 is deleted from the reception buffer 105, and the reception buffer 105 becomes empty accordingly. The print data is a set of a plurality of control commands, and one control command is composed of 1 byte or a plurality of bytes. Translation means 10
6 analyzes the print data in the reception buffer 105,
Create drawing data for drawing on printing paper.

When the drawing data for one page is completed, the translating means 106 checks whether or not there is a space for the drawing data in the page buffer 108 in the page control unit 107,
If there is a space, the drawing data for one page is transferred to the page buffer 108, and if there is no space, the analysis process of the next data is not performed until there is a space for the drawing data in the page buffer 108. Drawing data for a plurality of pages can be stored in the page buffer 108 in the page control unit 107. The page control unit 107 processes from the previously stored drawing data of the page.

The page controller 107 uses the page buffer 10
If there is drawing data of a page to be printed in 8, the drawing data of the page is converted into a video signal, and the video signal is sent to the engine unit 110. When the video signal is sent from the page control unit 107, the engine unit 110 takes in printing paper from the paper cassette 109, transfers the image of the video signal, and outputs it. When the page control unit 107 finishes sending the video signal of the page, the page buffer 1
The drawing data of the page is deleted from 08, and the page buffer 108 becomes empty.

Although a series of operations from data input to printing have been described above, the data receiving process in the data input unit 104, the data storing process in the receiving buffer 105, the data analyzing process in the translating unit 106, and the page control. Part 107
The print output processing in (1) is performed in parallel by multitask processing and interrupt processing.

(F) A case where the translating means 106 detects a macro execution instruction during the data analysis process will be described. The macro execution instruction means the printing device 10 in advance.
This is an instruction to execute the macro registered in 1, and the data analysis of the reception buffer 104 is not performed while the macro is being executed. A macro is a set of some control commands, and can be registered in the printing apparatus 101 by sending a macro registration command from the host computer 102. Here, it is assumed that the macro is registered in advance.

When the translating means 106 detects a macro execution instruction, it sends a macro execution notice to the control means 111 and executes the macro. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure for changing the setup menu of the printing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the control unit 111 receives the macro execution notification, it determines that an event has occurred that determines that the process is a process that requires a long processing time with respect to the data analysis amount (step S701), referring to "ACK delay" in the setup menu, and the value is "Yes"
Is set (step S702), the setting value 100 mS of "ACK response timing" of the current setup menu is read, and an instruction to change the ACK response timing to 100 mS is output to the data input means 104. As shown in FIG. 9C, when the data input unit 104 receives the event indicating the change instruction of the ACK response timing (step S707), the data input unit 104 changes the internally stored ACK response timing value to 100 mS. (Step S708).

As a result, from the reception of the next print data to A
The CK response timing is set to 100 mS and the ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102. Then, when the translation unit 106 finishes the execution of the macro, the translation unit 106 notifies the control unit 111 of the macro execution end, and ends the macro.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the control means 11
When the event indicating that 1 is a macro execution end notification is received (step S704), "ACK delay" in the setup menu is referred to and the value is set to "YES" (step S705), so data input Means 10
4, the instruction to change the ACK response timing to the value of 20 μS at the time of normal data reception is output (step S
706).

As shown in FIG. 9C, when the data input means 104 receives an event indicating that it is an instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S707), it receives the internally stored normal data. The ACK response timing value at that time is changed to 20 μS (step S70).
8). An ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 with an ACK response timing of 20 μS from the reception of the next print data.

During the macro execution of the translating means 106, the ACK response timing of the data input means 104 is 100 mS. Therefore, the ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 5000 times later than the ACK response timing of 20 μS at the time of normal data reception. This means
This means that the speed at which print data is stored in the reception buffer 105 is about 5000 times slower. While the translating unit 106 is executing the macro, the data receiving process in the data input unit 104, the data accumulating process in the receiving buffer 105, and the print output process in the page control unit 107 are normally performed as described above. In this case, since the macro is executed without performing the data analysis processing of the reception buffer 105, the print data of the reception buffer 105 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller and smaller.

The host computer 102 does not hang up because the ACK signal is returned within 150 mS after data transmission while the reception buffer 105 has a free space, but does not hang up. Since the ACK signal is not returned within 150 mS, it hangs up. Therefore, the control unit 111 slowly receives the data during the macro execution and controls so as to gain the macro execution time.

(G) Next, from the printing apparatus 101 to 1S
A case of using an application of the host computer 102 that causes a hang-up when an ACK signal is not returned during the period will be described.

The operator sets "ACK delay" in the setup menu of the printing apparatus 101 to "Yes" and then clicks "AC".
"K response timing" to 500 mS. In this state, print data is received from the host computer 102,
The translation means 106 detects the macro execution instruction, and the control means 1
When the macro execution notification is issued to 11, the control means 111
Outputs to the data input means 104 an instruction to change the ACK response timing to 500 mS.

As shown in FIG. 9C, when the data input means 104 receives an event indicating an instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S707), the internally stored ACK response timing value is set to 500 mS. (Step S708), the ACK response timing is 500 mS from the next data reception, and the ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102.

Thus, the ACK response timing 100 ms
Since it is 5 times slower than when, the macro execution time can be earned about 5 times faster than before.

(H) Further, from the printing apparatus 101 to the AC
A case will be described in which an application of the host computer 102 that does not hang up even if the K signal is not returned is used. When such an application is used, the reception buffer 10 does not hang up even if it waits for an ACK signal for data transmission. Therefore, even if a process that requires a longer processing time than the data amount is performed, the reception buffer 10
It is possible to shorten the data transfer time of the host computer 102 by always returning the ACK signal quickly while there is a space in 4.

The operator sets "ACK delay" in the setup menu of the printing apparatus 101 to "not". In this state, when print data is received from the host computer 102 and the translating means 106 detects a macro execution command,
A macro execution notice is sent to the control means 111 and the macro is executed. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the control unit 111 receives an event indicating that it is a macro execution notification, the control unit 111 determines that the process requires a long processing time with respect to the data analysis amount (step In step S701, “ACK delay” in the setup menu is referred to, but since the value is set to “not”, the ACK response timing with respect to the data input unit 104 is not changed.
Therefore, even when the translating means 106 is executing the macro, the data inputting means 104 returns an ACK signal to the host computer 102 at an ACK response timing of 20 μS during normal data reception.

As shown in FIG. 9A, when the receive buffer 105 becomes full during the macro execution, even if print data is sent from the host computer 102, the ACK signal is not returned and the receive buffer 104 becomes empty. Wait until it is possible (step S713).

As shown in FIG. 9B, when an event indicating that a space is available occurs (step S716),
The ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 (step S717), and the BUSY signal falls (step S).
718). However, since the application of the host computer 102 does not hang up after the data transmission, even if the ACK signal is not returned for a while, the printing apparatus 101 can continue the data reception processing as it is.

[Third Embodiment] A third embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention will be described. The same components as those in the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the control unit 111 compares the data amount analyzed by the translation unit 106 with the printing apparatus 101.
In the case where a specific process that is expected to take a long time is performed, the data input unit 104 controls the host computer 102 to return the ACK signal at a timing later than the normal ACK response timing. The control means 111 receives A at 20 μS after receiving the data at the normal time.
The data input means 104 is controlled so as to return the CK signal. However, when the specific processing is being performed, the ACK response timing is determined according to the content of the specific processing, and the ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 at the timing. Then, the data input means 104 is controlled. Control means 11
The memory 111b of No. 1 stores the programs executed by the CPU 111a and shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 and 12 described later.

The operation panel 112 returns a response to the host computer 102 when performing a specific process which is expected to take a long processing time in the printing apparatus 101 as compared with the amount of print data analyzed by the translating means 106. It can be set whether or not the timing is delayed from the normal response timing.

(I) The case where the host computer 102 uses an application of the host computer 102 that causes a hang-up when the ACK signal is not returned from the printing apparatus 101 within 500 mS will be described. The operator sets “ACK delay” in the setup menu of the printing apparatus 101 to “yes” and sets the “number of copies” to the value 1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the setup menu.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the print data fetching processing procedure of the printing apparatus. First, FIG.
As shown in, it is determined whether or not an event indicating that print data is sent from the host computer 102 to the printing apparatus 101 via the Centronics I / F 103 has occurred (step S911). In the printing apparatus 101, the print data is received by the data input unit 104. The data input means 104 takes in the data sent from the host computer 102 at the falling edge of the STROBE signal (step S912), and raises the BUSY signal (step S913).

It is checked whether or not the receiving buffer 105 has a free space for receiving the next print data (step S91).
4). If there is no free space in the reception buffer 105, the ACK signal is not immediately returned to the host computer 102 and the system waits until there is free space (step S915). As shown in FIG. 9B, it is determined whether or not an event indicating that the receiving buffer 105 has a free space has occurred (step S9).
18). An ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 when the receiving buffer 105 has a free space (step S
919) and the BUSY signal falls (step S92).
0). If there is free space in the receive buffer 105, the current A
An ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 with a CK response timing value of 20 μS (step S916), and BU
The SY signal is lowered (step S917).

At this point in time, the control means 111 does not perform any processing that requires a longer processing time than the amount of data analyzed by the translation means 106. Therefore, the data input means 104
ACK response timing value of 2 when receiving normal data
Set to 0 μS.

The data input means 104 accumulates the received data in the reception buffer 105. Receive buffer 10
The print data stored in 5 is translated in the order received.
In step 6, each control instruction is analyzed. The data analyzed by the translating means 106 is deleted from the reception buffer 105, and the reception buffer 105 becomes empty accordingly. The print data is a set of a plurality of control commands, and one control command is composed of one byte or a plurality of bytes. Translation means 1
When 06 analyzes the print data in the reception buffer 105, it creates drawing data to be drawn on the printing paper.

When the rendering data for one page is completed, the translating means 106 checks whether or not the page buffer 108 in the page control unit 107 has a space for the rendering data.
If there is a space, the drawing data for one page is transferred to the page buffer 108, and if there is no space, the analysis process of the next data is not performed until there is a space for the drawing data in the page buffer 108. The page buffer 108 in the page control unit 107 can store drawing data for a plurality of pages. The page control unit 107 processes from the previously stored drawing data of the page.

The page controller 107 controls the page buffer 10
If there is drawing data of the page to be printed in 8, the drawing data of the page is converted into a video signal and the video signal is sent to the engine unit 110. When the video signal is sent from the page control unit 107, the engine unit 110 takes in the printing paper from the paper cassette 109, transfers the image of the video signal, and outputs it. When the page control unit 107 finishes sending the video signal of the page, the page buffer 108
, The drawing data of the page is deleted, and the page buffer 108 becomes empty.

The series of operations from data input to printing have been described above. The data receiving process in the data input means 104, the data storing process in the receiving buffer 105,
Data analysis processing in the translation means 106, page control unit 10
The print output processing in 7 is performed in parallel by multitask processing and interrupt processing.

(J) A case will be described in which the translating means 106 detects the macro execution instruction of the macro number "1" during the data analysis process. The macro execution instruction is an instruction for executing a macro registered in the printing apparatus 101 in advance, and data analysis of the reception buffer 104 is not performed while the macro is being executed. A macro can be registered in the printing apparatus 101 by sending a macro registration command from the host computer 102 as a set of some control commands. A plurality of macros can be registered in the printing apparatus 101, and each macro has a macro number.

Here, the macro numbers "1" and "2" are set in advance.
It is assumed that the macro of is registered. Translation means 106
When it detects a macro execution instruction, sends a macro execution notification to the control means 111 and executes the macro of macro number "1". When the translating means 106 issues a macro execution notice to the control means 111, it informs the macro number and the data amount of the macro. Here, the macro with the macro number “1” is 10 kbytes, and the macro with the macro number “2” is 30 kbytes.
Byte.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the procedure for changing the setup menu of the printing apparatus. As shown in (A) of FIG. 11, when the control unit 111 knows that the data amount of the macro is 10 kbytes (step S901), it determines that the processing is to set the ACK response timing to 100 mS (step S902). ), Referring to “ACK delay” in the setup menu and setting the value to “Yes”, the data input means 104 receives an AC
An instruction to change the K response timing to 100 mS is output (step S904).

As shown in FIG. 12C, when the data input means 104 receives an event indicating an instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S909), the internally stored timing value of the ACK response is 100 mS. (Step S910), and ACK from the next data reception
Host 10 with ACK signal with response timing of 100 mS
Return to 2.

When the translating means 106 finishes the execution of the macro, it notifies the control means 111 of the end of macro execution and terminates the macro. As shown in FIG. 11B, when the control instruction 111 receives the macro execution end notification (step S906), it refers to “ACK delay” in the setup menu and sets the value to “execute”. Therefore, an instruction to change the ACK response timing to the value of 20 μS for receiving the normal data is output to the data input means 104 (step S908).

As shown in FIG. 12C, when the data input means 104 receives an event indicating an instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S909), the internally stored ACK at the time of normal data reception is received. The response timing value is changed to 20 μS (step S910), and the ACK response timing is ACK at 20 μS from the next data reception.
The signal is returned to the host computer 102. When the ACK response timing of the data input means 104 is 100 mS,
The ACK signal is sent 5000 times later than the ACK response timing of 20 μS at the time of normal data reception.
It will be returned to 02. This means that the receive buffer 10
5 means that the speed at which data is accumulated is about 5000 times slower.

During the macro execution of the translating means 106, the data receiving process in the data input means 104 and the receiving buffer 105
The data storage process for the print data and the print output process by the page control unit 107 are normally performed as described above.
In this case, since the macro is executed without performing the data analysis processing of the reception buffer 105, the print data of the reception buffer 105 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller and smaller. The host computer 102 does not hang up because the ACK signal is returned within 500 mS after data transmission while the receive buffer 104 has a free space. However, when the receive buffer 104 is full, 500 mS after data transmission.
Since the ACK signal is not returned within this, it hangs up. Therefore, the control unit 111 slowly receives the data during the macro execution and controls so as to gain the macro execution time.

(K) Next, the macro execution instruction with the macro number "2" is detected. As shown in FIG. 11 (A),
When the control unit 111 knows that the data amount of the macro is 30 kbytes (step S901), it determines that the process is to set the ACK response timing to 300 mS (step S902), and refers to "ACK delay" in the setup menu. However, since the value is set to "Yes", an instruction to change the ACK response timing to 300 mS is output to the data input means 104 (step S).
904).

As shown in FIG. 12C, when the data input means 104 receives an instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S909), the AC stored internally is stored.
The evening value of the K response is changed to 300 mS (step S910), the ACK response timing is 300 mS from the next data reception, and the ACK signal is sent to the host computer 102.
To return.

When the translating means 106 finishes the execution of the macro, it notifies the control means 111 of the end of macro execution, and terminates the macro. As shown in FIG. 11B, when the control unit 111 receives the macro end notification (step S906), it refers to “ACK delay” in the setup menu and sets the value to “Yes”. An instruction to change the ACK response timing to the normal data reception value of 20 μS is output to the data input unit 104 (step S908). As shown in (C) of FIG. 12, when the data input unit 104 receives the instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S909), the timing value of the ACK response at the time of receiving the normal data stored therein is 20 μS. (Step S910), the ACK response timing from the next data reception is 20 μS and AC
The K signal is returned to the host computer 102. When the ACK response timing of the data input means 104 is 300 mS, it is three times later than the ACK response timing of 100 mS.
Since the CK signal is returned to the host 102, the macro execution time can be earned about three times as long as before.

(L) Next, the operator operates the printing apparatus 101.
The operation panel 111 is operated to set the value "1" to "5". As shown in FIG. 11A, when the "copy number" is set to the value 5 (step S901), the control unit 111 determines that the ACK response timing is 200 mS (step S90).
2), referring to “ACK delay” in the setup menu and setting the value to “Yes”, the ACK response timing to the data input means 104 is 200 m.
An instruction to change to S is output (step S904).

As shown in FIG. 12C, when the data input means 104 receives the instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S909), the AC stored internally is stored.
The K response timing value is changed to 200 mS (step S910), the ACK response timing is set to 200 mS from the next data reception, and the ACK signal is transmitted to the host computer 102.
To return.

When the ACK response timing of the data input means 104 is 200 mS, an ACK upon normal data reception
ACK 10000 times slower than response timing 20μS
The signal will be returned to the host computer 102. This means that the speed at which the data is accumulated in the reception buffer 105 is about 10,000 times slower. When the “number of copies” is 5, the data input means 10
The data receiving process in 4, the data storing process in the receiving buffer 105, and the data analyzing process in the translating means 106 are performed in the same manner as when the "number of copies" has a value of 1, but the page control unit 107 corresponds to one page. Drawing data 5 times Engine part 1
Send to 10. In the meantime, when a lot of page drawing data is sent from the translation means 106, the page control means 1
The page buffer 108 in 07 becomes full, and the data analysis processing of the translation means 106 stops. If this happens, the data in the reception buffer 105 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller and smaller. However, in actuality, the data receiving process in the data input means 104 is about 1000 times higher than usual.
It is 0 times slower, and it takes a lot of time to fill the reception buffer 105. In the meantime, the page control unit 107 finishes the print output processing for the "number of copies",
The page buffer 108 has an empty space, the data analysis process of the translating means 106 is restarted, and the receiving buffer 105 has an empty space.

(M) Next, the operator operates the printing apparatus 101.
The operation panel 112 is operated to set the value "1" to "10". As shown in FIG. 11A, the control unit 111 determines that the “number of copies” is 10
If it is set to (step S901), it is determined that the process is to set the ACK response timing to 400 mS (step S902), and the value is set to “yes” with reference to “ACK delay” in the setup menu. , The ACK response timing to the data input means 104 is 40
An instruction to change to 0 mS is output (step S90).
4).

As shown in FIG. 12C, when the data input means 104 receives an instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S909), the AC stored internally is stored.
The K response timing value is changed to 400 mS (step S910), the ACK response timing is 400 mS from the next data reception, and the ACK signal is sent to the host computer 102.
To return. When the ACK response timing of the data input means 104 is 400 mS, the ACK response timing is 200 mS
2 times slower than ACK signal to host computer 102
Since it will be returned to, the macro execution time can be earned about 3 times as much as before.

(N) In addition, ACK is sent from the printing apparatus 101.
A case where an application of the host computer 102 that does not hang up even if is not returned is used will be described. When such an application is used, it does not hang up even if it waits for an ACK signal for data transmission. Therefore, even if a process that requires a longer processing time than the data amount is performed, it is always faster while the reception buffer 104 has a free space. The data transfer time of the host computer 102 can be shortened by returning the ACK signal. Therefore, the operator sets “ACK delay depending on the number of copies” in the setup menu of the printing apparatus 101 to “not”.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the control means 1
11 indicates that the “number of copies” is 10 (step S
901), this process sets the ACK response timing to 400 m.
Although it is determined that the process is S (step S90)
2) Since "ACK delay depending on the number of copies" is set to "not", an instruction to change the ACK response timing at the time of normal data reception to 20 μS is output to the data input means 104 (step S905). .

As shown in FIG. 12C, when the data input means 104 receives an event which is an instruction to change the ACK response timing (step S909), the timing value of the ACK response stored internally is 20 μS. (Step S910), the ACK response timing from the next data reception is 20 μS and the ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102. In this state, the host computer 10
When the print data is sent from 2, the data input process in the data input unit 104 in the printing apparatus 101, the data accumulation process in the reception buffer 105, the data analysis process in the translation unit 106, the page control unit 107. The print output process is performed in the same manner as above. However, the value of "one piece of frame" is 1.
Since it is 0, the page control unit 107 sends the drawing data for one page to the engine unit 110 ten times. In the meantime, when a lot of page drawing data is sent from the translation means 106, the page buffer 1 in the page control means 107
08 becomes full, and the data analysis processing of the translation means 106 stops. If this happens, the data in the reception buffer 105 cannot be swept and the free space becomes smaller and smaller, and the reception buffer 105 will eventually become full. In that case,
Even if the print data is sent from the host computer 102, the ACK signal is not returned and the reception buffer 104 waits until there is space (step S915).

As shown in FIG. 12B, when an event indicating that a space is available occurs (step S91).
8) The ACK signal is returned to the host computer 102 (step S919), and the BUSY signal falls (step S920). However, the host computer 102
Application does not hang up after sending the data even if the ACK signal is not returned for a while, the printing device 101
Can continue the data reception process.

In the above embodiment, the translation means for analyzing the print data sent from the host computer to create the drawing data of each page, and the printing device compared with the amount of the print data analyzed by the translation means. When performing a specific process that is expected to take a long time, the data input unit is separate from the control unit that controls the response to the host computer at a timing later than the normal response timing. Although the case is shown, the translation means and the control means may be integrated.

In the above embodiment, the case where the "ACK delay" and the "ACK response time" are set from the operation panel has been described, but those values may be set by the control data from the host computer. .

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the "ACK delay" can be set to "Yes" or "No" has been shown, but the "ACK delay" is always set to "Yes". You may not be able to change it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the receiving buffer is one large buffer and the drawing data analyzed by the translating means is deleted from the buffer has been described, but the receiving buffer is divided into several small blocks. The blocks may be connected in a chain structure, and the translation means may take in or release the blocks in units.

Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a storage medium of a system or an apparatus. In this case, the system or the device can enjoy the effects of the present invention by the system or the device reading the storage medium storing the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the RO is used as the storage medium.
The memory 111b composed of M is used, and the memory 111b
Stores a program having a communication module, a creation module, and a control module. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory map of a storage medium. The communication module is a program module that returns a response to the host computer every time one byte of print data is received and performs a handshake with the host computer. The creation module is a program module that analyzes print data sent from a host computer and creates drawing data in page units. The control module controls to return a response to the host computer at a response timing that is later than the normal response timing when performing processing that is expected to take longer than the amount of print data to be analyzed. It is a program module.

The program module itself read from this storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program module constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program module, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.

[0132]

According to the printing device of the first aspect of the present invention, when the print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from the information processing device is analyzed and printed, the data input means is used to Every time a predetermined amount of print data is received, a response is returned to the information processing device to perform a handshake with the information processing device, and the print data transmitted from the information processing device is analyzed by the translation unit to determine a predetermined page unit. When the drawing data is created and the processing is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translating means, the data input means is controlled by the control means to have a normal response timing. Control is performed so that a response is returned to the information processing device at a later response timing, so processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of data to be analyzed can be performed. If you are Tsu, it can continue the printing process without stopping.

According to the printing apparatus of the second aspect, when the processing which is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translating means is executed, the response timing is shorter than the normal response timing. Since the delay setting means capable of setting the late response timing is provided, the user can arbitrarily set.

According to the printing apparatus of the third aspect, in the case where the processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translating means is being performed, among the plurality of timing values Since the timing value setting means for selecting one and setting the late response timing is provided, the optimum response timing can be set.

According to the printing apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the operation panel is provided and the delay setting means is provided on the operation panel, the user can easily set the operation panel.

According to the printing apparatus of the fifth aspect, since the delay setting means is set by the print data sent from the information processing apparatus, it is possible to include the response timing in the print data. There is no need to reconfigure each data. It can also be set by remote control.

According to the printing apparatus of the sixth aspect, the control means determines the response timing in accordance with the content of the process predicted to take a long time, so that the optimum response timing can be set.

According to the printing apparatus of the seventh aspect, the content of the processing is the execution of the macro, and the response timing is determined according to the data amount of the macro. Therefore, the printing processing is stopped by the execution of the macro. It is possible to prevent it.

According to the printing apparatus of the eighth aspect, since the content of the processing is the number of copies, it is possible to prevent the printing processing from stopping even if the number of copies is large.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a registration means for registering a macro, and the control means, when executing the registered macro, sends a response to the information processing apparatus at the slow response timing. Since the control is performed so as to return it, it is possible to prevent the print processing from being stopped by the execution of the macro.

According to the printing apparatus of the tenth aspect, when the number of copies is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the control means controls the response to the information processing apparatus at a late response timing, so that the number of copies is large. Only in some cases, the response timing is set to be late, and when the response timing is small, the response timing is set to be normal, so that the print processing time is not unnecessarily lengthened.

According to the printing apparatus of the eleventh aspect, when the information processing apparatus hangs up when no response is received for a predetermined time, the delay setting means is set to a late response timing. You can prevent it from hanging up.

According to the printing apparatus of the twelfth aspect, when the information processing apparatus does not hang up even when the information processing apparatus does not receive a response, the delay setting means is not set to a late response timing, so that the print processing time is unnecessarily lengthened. You don't have to.

According to the printing method of the thirteenth aspect, in the printing method of analyzing and printing the print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from the information processing apparatus, the print data is received by a predetermined amount. Each time a response is returned to the information processing device to perform a handshake with the information processing device, the print data sent from the information processing device is analyzed to create drawing data in a predetermined page unit, and the analysis is performed. When processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data to be processed is controlled so that a response is returned to the information processing device at a response timing that is later than the normal response timing. When the processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of data to be processed is being performed, the printing processing can be continued without stopping.

According to the printing system of claim 14,
In a printing system including an information processing device that transmits print data composed of a plurality of control commands, and a printing device that analyzes and prints the print data sent from the information processing device, the printing device comprises: A data input unit that returns a response to the information processing apparatus each time a predetermined amount of print data is received to perform a handshake with the information processing apparatus; and analyzes the print data sent from the information processing apparatus to analyze a predetermined page. A translation means for creating unit drawing data,
When performing processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translation means, the data input means causes the information processing apparatus to respond to the information processing device at a response timing slower than the normal response timing. Since the control means for controlling so as to return the response is provided, the printing process can be continued without stopping when performing the process which is expected to take a longer processing time than the analyzed data amount.

According to the information processing apparatus of claim 15,
An information processing apparatus that transmits print data including a plurality of control commands to a printing apparatus and causes the printing apparatus to analyze the print data and perform printing, the printing apparatus each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received. A data output unit for performing a handshake with the printing apparatus by receiving a response sent from the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus performs a process that is expected to take a long processing time compared to the amount of print data to be analyzed. Since the response is returned to the data output unit at a later response timing than the normal response timing, and the data output unit transmits the print data every time the response is received at a later response timing than the normal response timing. If you are performing a process that is expected to take more processing time than the amount of data analyzed by the printing device, do not stop It can be continued printing process.

According to the storage medium of the sixteenth aspect, the storage medium used in the printing apparatus that stores a program for analyzing and printing print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from the information processing apparatus. A communication module that returns a response to the information processing apparatus and performs a handshake with the information processing apparatus each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received, and analyzes the print data sent from the information processing apparatus. If a processing is performed that creates a drawing data in predetermined page units and processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data to be analyzed, a response that is slower than the normal response timing Since a program including a control module that controls to return a response to the information processing device at a timing is stored, You can use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an appearance of an operation panel of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a setup menu of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing signals on a Centronics I / F representing a data reception sequence of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a setup menu change processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print data import processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a setup menu.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a setup menu change processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a print data acquisition processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a setup menu.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a setup menu change processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a print data acquisition processing procedure of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory map of a storage medium.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional printing apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a print data import processing procedure of a conventional printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 printing device 102 host computer 104 data input means 105 reception buffer 106 translation means 107 page control section 111 control means 112 operation panel

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus that analyzes and prints print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from an information processing apparatus, and sends a response to the information processing apparatus each time a predetermined amount of the print data is received. Data input means for returning and handshaking with the information processing apparatus, translation means for analyzing the print data sent from the information processing apparatus to create drawing data in a predetermined page unit, and analysis by the translation means When performing a process that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data to be printed, the data input unit returns a response to the information processing device at a response timing later than the normal response timing. A printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the printing apparatus. 2. When performing processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translation unit, it is possible to set a response timing that is later than the normal response timing. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising different delay setting means. 3. When performing processing that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translation means, one of a plurality of timing values is selected and the slow response is selected. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a timing value setting unit that sets the timing. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an operation panel, wherein the delay setting unit is provided on the operation panel. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delay setting unit is set by print data sent from the information processing apparatus. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the response timing according to the content of a process predicted to take a long time. 7. The content of the processing is execution of a macro,
7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the response timing is determined according to the data amount of the macro. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the content of the processing is the number of copies. 9. A registration means for registering a macro is provided, and the control means controls to return a response to the information processing device at the late response timing when executing the registered macro. The printing device according to claim 1. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to return a response to the information processing apparatus at a slow response timing when the number of copies is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. 11. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the information processing apparatus hangs up when no response is received for a predetermined time, the delay setting unit is set to a late response timing. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the information processing apparatus does not hang up even when no response is received, the delay setting unit is not set to a late response timing. 13. A printing method for analyzing and printing print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from an information processing device, wherein a response is sent to the information processing device every time a predetermined amount of the print data is received. When returning and performing a handshake with the information processing device, the print data sent from the information processing device is analyzed to create drawing data in a predetermined page unit, and compared with the amount of the analyzed print data. A printing method, wherein when a process that is expected to take a long processing time is being performed, control is performed so that a response is returned to the information processing device at a response timing that is later than a normal response timing. 14. A printing system comprising: an information processing device that transmits print data composed of a plurality of control commands; and a printing device that analyzes and prints the print data sent from the information processing device, The printing device sends back a response to the information processing device each time it receives a predetermined amount of the print data, and performs a handshake with the information processing device, and the print data sent from the information processing device. In the case where a translation unit that analyzes and creates drawing data in a predetermined page unit and a process that is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data analyzed by the translation unit are performed, the data input unit Control means for controlling the information processing device to return a response at a later response timing than a normal response timing. System. 15. An information processing apparatus for transmitting print data composed of a plurality of control commands to a printing apparatus, causing the printing apparatus to analyze the print data to perform printing, and receive a predetermined amount of the print data. A process for receiving a response sent from the printing device for each and performing a handshake with the printing device, wherein the printing device is expected to take a longer processing time than the amount of print data to be analyzed If you are doing
A response is returned to the data output unit at a response timing that is later than a normal response timing, and the data output unit transmits the print data each time a response is received at a response timing that is later than the normal response timing. A characteristic information processing device. 16. A storage medium used in a printing device, which stores a program for analyzing and printing print data composed of a plurality of control commands sent from an information processing device, wherein the print data is stored in the storage medium. A communication module that returns a response to the information processing device each time a fixed amount is received and performs a handshake with the information processing device, and analyzes the print data sent from the information processing device to generate drawing data in predetermined page units. When performing a process that is expected to take longer than the amount of print data to be analyzed with the creating module to create, a response is sent to the information processing device at a response timing that is later than the normal response timing. A storage medium storing a program including a control module for controlling to return.